Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 707,078. Patented Aug. I9, |902?,

n. w. BISHOP. y ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application med mr. 7, 1902.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

DAVID VOLFE BISHOP, OF LENOX, MASSACHUSE'ITS.v

ACETYLENE-GS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '707,0'78, dated August 19, 1902.

Application iiled March 7, 1902. Serial No. 97,156. (No model.)

The object of my invention is a portableY generator for acetylene gas for illuminating purposes constructed and arranged so thatthe light fed by the gas shall not be injurif ously affected by violent movements of the vehicle or other moving support in or'upon which said generator may be situated.

My invention consists, rst, in "the construction whereby to the hydrostatic pressure of the water column above theV valve which ad mits water from the upper reservoir to the lower gas-generating compartment is added the gas-pressure in said compartment, thereby rendering the water-dow more steady and uniform and permitting a smaller valveopening for equal water-output toV be used; second, in the formation of lan air-chamber to contain compressed air above said water column, the air-pressure inV which chamber is caused both by the hydrostatic pressure in,

the reservoir and the said gas-pressure 5 third, in the construction whereby the air-pressure in said air-chamber is decreased when the gas-pressure in the generating-compartment exceeds a certain predetermined limit and whereby an increase of'gas-pressure beyond predetermined limit operates to cause a diminution in the water-delivery from the valve; fourth, in the construction and arrangement of the tube for conducting gas from compartment to reservoir, whereby said tube is carried above the reservoir-cover and then bent over to pass through said cover; fifth, in the relief-valve in the upper part of the reservoir constructed to permit escape of gas there-A from when the pressure shall exceed apre` determined amount above normal working pressure; sixth, in the general construction form and'embodies two vessels A and B, the vessel A being attached by a threaded connection to and below the vessel B, so as to be readily removable. The vessel Ais hereinafter termed the gas-generating compartment, and the vessel B, in which is placed the water which is gradually delivered to the carbid in vessel A, is hereinafter termed the water-reservoir;7 The vessel B is provided with a cover C, permanently secured in place by brazing or otherwise. The bottom D of Ythe water-reservoi r forms a horizontal partition, separating said reservoir from the gascompartment.

Passing through the cover and bottom of the water-reservoir and preferably centrally disposed therein is a tube E, which extends below the bottom D and receives the needlevalve Fin a seat in its closed lower extremity. Valve Fis carried by the stem Gr, which is threaded where it passes through the correspondingly-threaded perforated partition H in said tube and which passes through a stuffing-box lof the tube E. An opening J in tube E allows of access of water to the interior of said tube, and so to valve F. Also passing through the cover and bottom of the Water-reservoir is a' tube K. The lower end of said tube, which extends int-o the gas-compartment, is covered with wire network or perforated metal. The upper end of said tube is closed and provided with a stop-cock L. The object of this tube is to contain the drying material for the gas, which material may be of any suitable character. I prefer to employ, as here shown, a body of carbid M between two bodies of cotton or other brous absorbent substance N. It will be observed that this drier is located in the Waterreservoir,V` so that the gas traversing it is not only dried, but is cooled by reason of vthe surrounding water.'

O is abent tube, one leg Pof which extends through the bottom of the water-reservoir and passes upward through the cover thereof. Above the cover the tube O is bent over, and its other leg R terminates at saidcover. In the cover is a tube S, on which is seated the valve T. Said valve has a stem X, which passes down through the perforated partition Z and carries a spring Y, by which said valve is held to its seat. Surrounding the stem X and interposedvbetween valve T and partition Z is a light helical spring Y', constructed simply to balance the weight of valve and stem, so as to render the valve more sensitive in Working. The gas-generating compartment is preferably provided with a central tube U, of wire-gauze or perforated metal.

The operation of the device is as follows: The gas-generating compartment; A being detached from the water-reservoir, a suitable quantity of carbid V is placed therein around the central tube U. CompartmentAis then connected to reservoir B by the threaded connection, and a suitable amount of Water is introduced into said reservoir through the tube S. The needle-valve F is then opened by rotating its stem G to permit the Water in the reservoir to escape drop by drop into the tube 'U and thence through the Wire-gauze or perforations of said tube into the mass of carbid V. The upper end of tube E is closed by a tight cover and stutting-box through which the rod G passes. Hence above the water column in said tube there is formed a cushion of compressed air, which tends to prevent movement of the water column in said tube. The apertures H in partition H also act as a dash-pot to the same effect. The gas generated in compartment A passes through the drying substance in tube K and so through the stop-cock L to the place of ignition. It also passes through the tube O and into the reservoir above the Water-level therein. Under normal conditions of gas production the etfect is simply to equalize the pressure above the water with that existing in the gas-generating compartment, since the valve is set now to lift and permit escape at such pressure. It', however, the apparatus be subjected to agitation or shocks, more especially such as occur when a vehicle on Which it is carried runs over obstructions or ruts or -traverses rough roads, then by reason of the sudden vertical movement of the generator an undue amount of Water is apt to pass momentarily through the needle-valve. This causes an equally sudden flashing up of the gas-pressure, with the result of causing the tiame supplied by the gas to flare and often to go out. By means of the bent tube O, however, the excessive pressure in the compartment is transmitted to the surface of the water in the reservoir, so that to the hydrostatic pressure in the reservoir is added that of the gas. Hence the valve may be set toa much smaller opening than is otherwise needed to give the necessary discharge. This reduction in area of the necessary valve-open.

ing also tends to counteract the effect of shock or agitation of the apparatus, since the quantity of Water which can thus be shaken down is necessarily diminished. The gas-pressure on the water surface in the reservoir also tends to prevent agitation of the Water therein and to cause a greater compression of the l air in the upper part of tube E than would be due to the hydrostatic pressure only, thus increasing the effect of the air-cushion in checking the impressed movements of the Water column in said tube. Inasmuch as by the action of the air-cushion and increased pressure the eiect of shock to throw down an overplus of Water through the valve F is diminished, it follows that no very great accidental increase of pressure will result. Hence it is not necessary to provide means especially adapted for such large increase above normal. Therefore I provide in the upper Wall of the reservoir the balanced valve T, the spring of which is set to yield whenever the undue pressure attains a certain smallexcess over that of normal Working. When this excess occurs, the valve instantly opens and permits the gas to escape to a sufficient extent to relieve the said pressure and then at once closes. The small spring on the valvestem compensating for the weight of valve and stem renders this action of the valve very easy and sensitive.

It Will be observed that by reason of the foregoing construction the air-pressure in the chamber of tube E above the water column is controlled by the gas-pressure in the gascompartment and that if the said gas-pressure suddenly increases then by reason of the lifting of the relief-valve T the air-pressure in E will decrease.l The cycle of operation when a sudden impressed movement of the water column in tube E occurs will thus be apparent. The excess of Water causes increased gas generation and increased gaspressure in compartment A, thence results increased pressure above the water in reservoir B, thence lifting of valve T, lthence decreased pressure in air-chamber E, and thence decreased Water-flow from valve F. This action by reason of the unobstructed passage of the gas to the reservoir and valve is practically instantaneous with the shock, so that the latter itself produces immediate diminution of the Water-delivery.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the tube extends above and outside of` the reservoir and communicates with the interior thereof through the cover. It is essential that it should not terminate in the airspace inside the reservoir, since in such case the water agitated by the shock would more or less run down the tube into thecarbid, and thus cause a greater evolution of gas.

IIO

I have subjected this apparatus to severe and repeated tests in Working form and have found the operation as above described uniformly successful, the light remaining practically nnimpaired despite shocks far more violent than are liable to occur to automobiles, locomotives, or other vehicles :for use on which this device is more especially designed.

In another application for Letters Patent filed by me simultaneously herewith, Serial No. 97,155, I have described and claimed certain constructive features of the present apparatus, and the said subject-matter is therefore not herein claimed.

I claiml. In an acetylene-gas generator having an upper water-reservoir and a lower gas-generating compartment, a compartment having an opening communicating with said reservoir and hermetically sealed above said opening to form a chamber for air under pressure and having an aperture below said reservoiropening communicating directly with said gas-compartment, a valve in said aperture adjustable in deuite position to regulate water-iiow from said reservoir to said compartment, and means for increasing the air-pressure in said air-chamber above that due to the hydrostatic pressu rc in said reservoir, substantially as described.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator having an upper water-reservoir and a lower gas-generating compartment,a compartment having an opening communicatingr with said reservoir, and herinetically sealed above said opening to form a chamber for air under pressure and having an aperture below said reservoir-opening com municating directly with said gas-compartment, a valve in said aperture adjustable in definite position to regulate the Water-flow from said reservoir to said compartment, a gas-escape duct leading from said gas-compartment, and means independent of said escape-duct for varyingr the water-pressure in said air-chamber controlled by the gas-pressure in said compartment,substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator having an upper water-reservoir and a lower gas-generating compartment, a compartment having an opening communicating with said reservoir hermetically sealed above said opening to form a chamber for air Linder pressure and havin g an aperture below said reservoir-opening communicating directly with said gaseompartment,a valve in said aperture adjustable in deiinite position to regulate the Water- `iiow from said reservoir to said compartment, a gas-escape duct leading from said gas-compartment, means independent of said escapeduct for normallyincreasing the air-pressure in said air-chamber above that due to the hydrostatic pressure of the water column in said reservoir, and means controlled by the gaspressure in said gas-compartment for decreasing the said air-pressure when said gas-pres- Sure shall exceed a predetermined limit, substantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-gas generator, having a closed upper water-reservoir and a lower gasgenerating compartment, a valve chamber communicating withsaid reservoir, a valve in said chamber for admitting water therefrom to said compartment, an air-chamber above the water column in said valve-chamber, a gas-escape duct leading from said gas- `level thereof, substantially as described.

5. In an acetylene-gas generator having a closed upper water-reservoir and a lower gas- `generating compartment, a gas-escape duct `leading from said gas-compartment, means independent of said duct, for conducting gas under pressure from said compartment and into said reservoir above the water-level thereof, a valve-chamber within said reservoir closed at its upper end and receiving water at its lower portion, a valve for admitting water from said chamber to said compartment, and means for positively adjusting said valve to vary the water-dow, substantially as described.

6. In an acetylene-gas generator having an upper water-reservoir and a lower carbidcompartment, a valve for admitting water from said reservoir to said compartment, means for positively adjusting said valve to vary the water-flow, atube adapted tolead gas from said compartment into said reservoir through the top Wall or cover thereof, and arelief-valve in said wall or cover; the said valve being constructed and arranged to permit the escape of gas from said reservoir upon the gas-pressure therein reaching a predetermined limit in excess of that due to the normal working pressure in the apparatus, substantially as described.

7. In an acetylene-gas generator, in combination ,with a gas-generating compartment and a pipe for conducting gas therefrom, of a closed water-reservoir above said compartment, means for gradually admitting water from said reservoir to said compartment, a tube extending upwardly through said reservoir from the gas-space in said compartment and bent over above said reservoirand opening into said reservoir through the cover thereof, and a relief-valve in said reservoir above the 4water-line therein; the said Valve being constructed and arranged to open and permit the escape of gas from reservoir upon the pressure thereof reaching a predetermined limit in excess of that due to thenormal working pressure in the apparatus, substantially as described.

8. In an acetylene-gas generator, an upper Water-reservoir and a lower gas-generating compartment, a tube in said reservoir having an opening in its wall communicating with and near the bottom of said reservoir, and extending upwardly above the water-level in said reservoir and closed at its upper end, a valve fin the lower portion of said tube for admitting water therefrom into said gas-generating compartment, and means for equalizing pressures in said compartment and in the space above the water in said reservoir, substantially as described.

9. In an acetylene-gas generator, a closed upper Water-reservoir B,lower gas-generating ICO IOS I IIO oompartmentA, tube E closed atits upperend extending through the top and bottom Walls of said reservoir, and having an opening J communicating with said reservoir, a valve F in the bottom of said tube foradmitting Water therefrom into said gas-generating compartment, means for positively adjusting said valve, a gas-escape duet leading from said gascompartment and a separate tube O for oonduoting gas from said compartment into said reservoir above the Water-level thereof, substantially as described.

10. In an acetylene-gas generator', a closed upper Water-reservoir B,lower gas-generatin g compartment A, tube E closed atits upper end extending through the top and bottom Walls of said reservoir and having opening J oom- 

